AFL Pre-season intel: Key practice match notes and SuperCoach advice
After the first – if unofficial – round of practice matches, SAM LANDSBERGER has taken a fine-toothed comb to every side to see who’s set to break out and which magnets are being moved around by coaches.
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AFL clubs had their first hit-outs against other teams this week.
Finally, after months of intra-club games, we’ve seen how coaches plan to unleash their squads this year.
We’ve examined every pre-season game to see where the magnets have been swung, who’s in line for an early-season debut and who the SuperCoach smokies and locks are.
MELBOURNE vs RICHMOND
Melbourne 14.10 (94) def by Richmond 18.9 (117) at Casey Fields on Sunday, February 18
Richmond’s Next Generation – Dow, Green, Gibcus, Brown, Banks, Sonsie, Ryan, Young and Campbell – looked crisp at Casey while recruits Sam Naismith (ruck) and Jacob Koschitzke (forward) got their first taste as Tigers. Jack Viney and Christian Petracca helped the Demons fire through the first five goals before their rigid defensive system caved. Summer or spring, it is rare to witness these Dees concede 18 goals, but you could understand if motivation levels were overly high early on a Sunday morning in Cranbourne.
ROUND 1 BOLTER: Stoppage star THOMSON DOW played just 14 out of 75 games under Damien Hardwick but he will line up against his old coach in Opening Round after working his backside off over summer. SAM NAISMITH is also set to be considered for a fairytale return after toiling at Port Melbourne in the VFL. Tom Sparrow said JACK BILLINGS was “silky smooth on both feet” with the ex-Saint set to make an instant splash in red and blue.
ROLE CHANGE: Swingman NOAH BALTA – who roosted a few from 50m – will co-pilot TOM LYNCH at full-forward when Lynch returns. JOSH SCHACHE and JACOB van ROOYEN served as ruck understudies as the Demons find ways to look after MAX GAWN while KYSAIAH PICKETT might increase his midfield minutes.
INJURY WATCH: CLAYTON OLIVER’S education of the refreshed game plan is being fast-tracked by assistant Andrew McQualter after a turbulent off-season. Forwards PICKETT, JOEL SMITH (suspension), BEN BROWN (knee), TOM FULLARTON (hamstring) and JAKE MELKSHAM (knee) will all be sidelined when the season starts. Tiger DION PRESTIA (hamstring) is a watch but TOM LYNCH won’t play in Opening Round.
SUPERCOACH INTEL: JOSH GIBCUS ($150,700 def) and SHAI BOLTON ($540,700 fwd/mid) are Tiger ticks while GAWN ($583,700) and CHRISTIAN PETRACCA ($667,700) are blue-chip choices.
COLLINGWOOD vs NORTH MELBOURNE
Collingwood 10.8 (68) def by North Melbourne 15.12 (102) at AIA Centre on Wednesday, February 21
‘Northball’ – the nickname for when the Roos turbocharge their transitions – started to sizzle as the Pies pulled their platinum players from the game. The Roos also won two post-game match scenario plays when they were asked to cling to and then claw back seven-point margins. That was encouraging given the Magpies are masters at Houdini heroics. Jordan De Goey was at his destructive best while Pat Lipinski, Charlie Lazarro and Paul Curtis excited their fan bases.
ROUND 1 BOLTER: Pie REEF McINNES played as the deepest forward and after booting bags of goals at training he added another three against North. Will the Magpies swap their ‘Mc’ – out: Dan McStay, in: McInnes? With BILLY FRAMPTON beaten could CHARLIE DEAN come under consideration?
FIN MACRAE’S mighty intra-club performance pushed his magnet into the mix. The Roos will roll out a new-look mix of key defenders as TOBY PINK, BIGOA NYUON and KALLAN DAWSON, who played deepest, tussle to make the team in place of injured duo Aidan Corr and Griffin Logue.
ROLE CHANGE: BEAU McCREERY did not catch fire during his cameo at 13 centre bounces while NICK DAICOS played purely as a midfielder. Like Daicos in year two, fellow Rising Star winner HARRY SHEEZEL looks set to graduate up the grass to play a mix of halfback and onball in 2024. Grand Final player DYLAN STEPHENS has stitched up a wing spot for the Shinboners after switching from Sydney.
INJURY WATCH: CHARLIE COMBEN (foot) was a late withdrawal while Bailey Scott (calf) was also sidelined. Underrated utility WILL HOSKIN-ELLIOTT rolled his ankle but has oodles of time to get it right.
SUPERCOACH INTEL: Roos halfbacks COLBY McKERCHER ($202,800 mid), ZAC FISHER ($378,600 fwd) and SHEEZEL ($556,200) should share the Sherrin while premiership Pies JORDAN DE GOEY ($539,900 mid) and PAT LIPINSKI ($389,700 fwd) are worth pondering.
CARLTON vs GEELONG
Carlton 8.8 (56) def by Geelong 10.13 (73) at IKON Park on Thursday, February 22
For both teams there was something old – Geelong had 35-year-old Tom Hawkins while Carlton had Harry McKay spraying a set-shot from 20m – and something new – the Cats unveiled No. 11 draft choice Connor O’Sullivan, who Gryan Myers thinks might be worthy of a 10-year contract, while the Blues had Elijah and Ollie Hollands blowing up their GPS trackers as running machines. The game started with something bold when captains Tom Stewart and Patrick Cripps played rock, paper scissors in lieu of a coin to toss and there was also something nostalgic for a former Blue (Zach Tuohy returned to Ikon Park for the first time since walking out on Carlton in 2016).
ROUND 1 BOLTER: After a superb summer ex-basketballer OLLIE DEMPSEY slam-dunked his selection shot when he soared over Blake Acres to pull down a screamer. The flashy half-forward is a fantastic athlete while SAM DURDIN is doing everything right to line up on Joe Daniher or Eric Hipwood in Opening Round. SHANNON NEALE might not play round 1, but the 203cm forward who in pink boots moves like a gazelle and can flush them from 50m might just be the heir to Tomahawk’s throne.
ROLE CHANGE: Externally the talk is whether MAX HOLMES will find a new home in 2025. Internally Holmes has been rehomed as a freewheeling halfback who can turn a short kick into a 100m play with his speed and overlap. More of All-Australian halfback SAM DOCHERTY’S outside run will be used onball while courageous wingman OLLIE HOLLANDS will also get a go in the guts.
INJURY WATCH: Ferocious midfielder CAM GUTHRIE (quad) lasted eight seconds before falling over with what appeared a painful injury while GARY ROHAN (back) did not feature and is no certainty to play Round 1. The Blues are sweating on SAM WALSH (back), JACK MARTIN (knee) and ZAC WILLIAMS (knee) and are certain to start their season without JACOB WEITERING (calf), JACK SILVAGNI (knee) and ELIJAH HOLLANDS (suspension).
SUPERCOACH INTEL: ZAC WILLIAMS ($216,100 def) is worth locking in because while he might be held back from Opening Round, scores from that weekend won’t be counted in SuperCoach. PATRICK DANGERFIELD ($490,300 mid) is in 1 per cent of teams but insiders say he has had his best pre-season in years.
WESTERN BULLDOGS vs HAWTHORN
Western Bulldogs 16.12 (108) def Hawthorn 12.11 (83) at Whitten Oval on Friday, February 23
Rising Star Ryley or Socks-up Sanders – which headline do you prefer? Either way this simulation was all about Dogs No. 6 draft pick Ryley Sanders, the tough Tasmanian who teammates have privately talked up for matching Tom Liberatore in contested drills at training. When the TV cameras turned on it was Sanders who shone brightest with lightning hands and a driving goal, although it was only when they turned off that the likes of Bontempelli, Treloar and Weightman appeared as the Dogs divvied up their diamonds across the AFL and VFL contests. New Hawk Jack Ginnivan’s smarts have not softened as the premiership Pie slotted two goals for the club he grew up supporting.
ROUND 1 BOLTER: HENRY HUSTWAITE’S hand is officially up. Hustwaite kicked two goals kicked out of the centre square and has been hot all pre-season. Expect either JAI SERONG or late signing ETHAN PHILLIPS to join James Sicily and Sam Frost in a depleted defence while CHARLIE CLARKE is one closing in on a debut for the Dogs as a tackling small forward.
ROLE CHANGE: Similar stars Kysaiah Pickett and Izak Rankine got their tastes onball last season and in 2024 it will be CODY WEIGHTMAN’S turn to explode out of the centre at stages. BLAKE HARDWICK the goalkicker is no gimmick with his strength in the contest set to make defenders nervous. Hardwick led the TAC Cup goalkicking with 56 (16 games) in 2016 before Alastair Clarkson decided he was a defender. But Hardwick only went behind the ball when James Sicily was removed from the game.
INJURY WATCH: WILL DAY (foot) won’t play round 1 while housemate DYLAN MOORE (glandular fever) is also in doubt. JACKSON MACRAE is busy researching the property market as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
SUPERCOACH INTEL: SANDERS ($184,800 mid) is a must while wipe JOSH WEDDLE’S ($373,800 def) had a shaky start to this match sim. This kid tucks the ball under the arm and runs knowing he can turn one touch into two.
ST KILDA vs ESSENDON
St Kilda 16.10 (106) def Essendon 5.10 (40) at RSEA Park on Friday, February 23
Dejected Dons fans will dwell on losing their past three outings by a combined 262 points. Nic Martin conceded they struggled to move the ball out of the defensive 50 and while that is a worry, it is also February. Realistic supporters will take a deep breath and instead delight in JAYDEN DAVEY playing his first game (VFL) in 922 days after dual knee reconstructions and ZACH REID playing the first half alongside Ben McKay. Saint JOSH BATTLE was the premier defender on the ground and used the ball smartly to start several scoring chains. What will the free agent be worth in six months’ time?
ROUND 1 BOLTER: Ross the Boss became Ross the Babysitter last year and draftees HUGO GARCIA (No. 50) and DARCY WILSON (No. 18) must be in the mix. Wilson is a running machine, which Lyon loves, while the Saints traded up to take tackling machine and another elite runner in Garcia. It only took vibrant goalkicker NATE CADDY a couple of training sessions to bolt into the frame for the Bombers.
ROLE CHANGE: MATTAES PHILLIPOU shadowed Darcy Parish and won four clearances after playing 2023 in the forward line. Midfield depth might be St Kilda’s weakness early in the season and so that was a positive sign. The NIC MARTIN to halfback experiment continued despite his established dominance on the wing while a stronger SAM DURHAM is set to secure significant midfield minutes.
INJURY WATCH: MARCUS WINDHAGER broke his hand but should be OK for round 1. JACK SINCLAIR (calf) is expected to return for that match although PADDY DOW and DAN BUTLER are touch and go. PETER WRIGHT, SAM DRAPER and JORDAN RIDLEY could all feature in Essendon’s dress rehearsal in Geelong next week.
SUPERCOACH INTEL: Here’s a smoky for you. RILEY BONNER ($284,500) is in less than 1 per cent of teams, but on Friday he took the kick-outs and was used as a distributor along with star of the future Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. Reckon Bonner had close to 30 touches, but the worry is will a fit Sinclair bounce out Bonner?
BRISBANE LIONS V GOLD COAST
Brisbane 15.12 (102) def Gold Coast 8.7 (55) at Brighton Homes Arena on Thursday, February 22
CAMERON RAYNER was best-afield in one intra-club, close to best-afield in another and clearly best-afield against the Suns. That’s because Rayner the rock star forward has become Rayner the rugged midfielder. It’s no surprise this bloke owns a gym with Darcy Gardiner because he is looking as powerful as ever. The only question is will Rayner remain a midfielder when the likes of Lachie Neale and Jarrod Berry return? Charlie Cameron converted five goals in little more than quarter while as always Touk Miller tried hard for the Suns and won the first two clearances of the contest. But, let’s be honest, Gold Coast’s highlight came the following day when Ben King signed on to stay.
ROUND 1 BOLTER: JAMES TUNSTILL might not get over the line, but he is probably at the top of the list of Brisbane boys trying to burst into a grand final line-up. The WA boy has clean hands and made a 450km round trip from Busselton to play WAFL for East Perth in his last year at school. Sun DARCY MACPHERSON has been reprogrammed as a pressure forward – the position he started his career in – and with James Tsitas suspended for Opening Round he could be in line to take on coach Damien Hardwick’s old mob.
ROLE CHANGE: Lion KAI LOHMANN has levelled up his endurance to the point where he might win a place on the wing. Fullback DARCY GARDINER stopped Charlie Curnow in the preliminary final, but is now is eyeing Jack Gunston’s spot as a third forward. Gardiner kicked a bag in the first intra-club and has trained forward for most of the summer. ALEX SEXTON sits second on Gold Coast’s all-time goalkicking list, but Hardwick has declared the sharpshooter is better off as a rebounding halfback. Werribee boy SAM CLOHESY replaced Brandon Ellis (shin) on a wing for three periods. BAILEY HUMPHREY might just be Dimma’s new Dustin Martin.
INJURY WATCH: LACHIE NEALE (groin surgery) might benefit more from training rather than playing scratch games in his bid to get right for Opening Round while DEV ROBERTSON (wrist) is close to full training while JARROD BERRY (shoulder) is likely to play minutes next week. LACHIE WELLER (knee) is still on the comeback trail while No. 3 draft pick JED WALTER (collarbone) will play when he’s recovered.
SUPERCOACH INTEL: You could argue over the last eight quarters of the 2023 AFL season ‘KIDDY’ COLEMAN ($398,000 def) was the No. 1 player in the AFL. Get the feeling ‘Dimma’ is delighted with SAM FLANDERS ($494,200 mid) and Ben Ainsworth ($426,900 fwd) if you want to be a little bit creative.
PORT ADELAIDE V ADELAIDE
Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) drew Adelaide 14.9 (93) at Alberton Oval on Friday, February 23
Pick No.2 from 2020 (Riley Thilthorpe) and pick No.1 from 2021 (Jason Horne-Francis) have often teased but – based on Friday night – they look ready to tear games apart. Thilthorpe has blossomed mentally as much as physically in the past 12 months while the power of Horne-Francis is reminiscent of Paddy Dangerfield. Recruit Brandon Zerk-Thatcher made a bright start battling Taylor Walker while Ivan Soldo might have shaved Jordon Sweet among Port’s ruck recruits.
ROUND 1 BOLTER: Mark Keane’s concussion – compounded by the absence of Nick Murray (hamstring) and Tom Doedee (Brisbane) – could thrust JAMES BORLASE into the side, particularly if Jordan Butts (hamstring) suffers another setback. JOSH SINN is looking promising but don’t discount JACKSON MEAD from also putting his hand up for round 1.
ROLE CHANGE: IZAK RANKINE got a taste of the midfield last year (attended 11 centre bounces). On Friday night there was clearly an appetite for more as he started in the first handful before being rested in the second half. A tug-of-war for MILES BERGMAN between Port’s line coaches is testament to his terrific summer and he was trialled on a wing against the Crows.
INJURY WATCH: JAKE SOLIGO is nursing a sore ankle and that is a shame because the mail from West Lakes was this bloke – much like his Tigers mate Tyler Sonsie – was buzzing. Soligo is clean below his knees, breaks tackles and once fit it won’t be long until he is rushed in. MARK KEANE must be in doubt for round 1 while SAM POWELL-PEPPER might be sent to the tribunal on Monday. MITCH GEORGIADES will need more conditioning minutes in the SANFL before he is ready to play AFL.
SUPERCOACH INTEL: ZAK BUTTERS ($636,100) is a set-and-forget superstar while could NED McHENRY ($234,700) – who is in less than 1 per cent of teams – be worth a look as a roughie?
SYDNEY SWANS V GWS GIANTS
Sydney 16.16 (112) def GWS 13.8 (86) at Tramway Oval on Thursday, February 22
The Swans were thrilled to create 10 front-half turnovers in the first quarter, but the Giants did kick four on the trot despite the Swans focusing over summer on stifling momentum to limit opposition goal streaks. The Giants bucked the experimentation trend in these games by almost exclusively turning to Tom Green, Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly and Callan Ward in the midfield. Brodie Grundy beat Kieren Briggs in the ruck while there were bags aplenty as Logan McDonald, Aaron Cadman and Jesse Hogan each booted four goals.
ROUND 1 BOLTER: Giants speedster DARCY JONES (pick 22 in 2022) sat out with soreness but is still in the selection mix for an AFL debut and academy product HARVEY THOMAS (pick 59 in 2023) used the hit-out to thrust his name up in lights.
ROLE CHANGE: Giants goalkickers AARON CADMAN and JAKE RICCARDI gave Briggs brief chop-outs in the ruck while silky talent JACOB WEHR showed his run on the wing might be worth running with in the real season. Swans defender ROBBIE FOX played as a defensive forward and MATT ROBERTS went all right at halfback. NICK BLAKEY spent time on Hogan and Riccardi and wondered a very long way forward to also kick a goal.
INJURY WATCH: ISAAC CUMMING (hamstring) and HARRY PERRYMAN (quad) will miss Opening Round. TAYLOR ADAMS was rested but is healthy and the Swans are in markedly good nick, aside from skipper CALLUM MILLS who will miss half the season.
SUPERCOACH INTEL: Is it crazy to consider LOGAN McDONALD ($329,700) in the post-Buddy Franklin era? CHAD WARNER ($560,300) has the tools to become Sydney’s best player while at this price BRODIE GRUNDY ($481,900) picks himself. TOM GREEN ($621,500) is my pick to be the Giants’ first ever Brownlow Medallist … possibly in 2024.
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